Category Archives: Preventative Medicine

Cloned antibodies that stop the coronavirus from spreading in the body are among promising strategies for averting severe illness from COVID-19 before vaccines arrive, said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Antibody-based medications, other blood products from recovered patients and antivirals are being investigated as early treatments, Fauci said. The aim is to prevent patients from developing the serious lung damage for which Gilead Sciences Inc.s remdesivir and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone are administered.

We are focusing very heavily now on treatment of early infection and/or prevention of infection, Fauci told the Journal of the American Medical Association in an an interview. And thats the bridge to the vaccine.

Immunization against SARS-CoV-2 could begin in the U.S. in November or December, Fauci said, though it will probably take until at least the third quarter of 2021 for enough Americans to be protected against the pandemic virus to significantly diminish its threat.

Fauci said 100 million doses of vaccine may be produced by December, with all six companies supplying the U.S. slated to have made 700 million doses by next April.

Optimally, wed have an oral antiviral drug you can give to more people earlier in the course of the illness, said Robert Chip Schooley, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, who is studying more potent versions of an existing antiviral treatment.

Vaccines might not be 100% effective, he said, which is better than nothing, but were still going to have to rely on drugs and behavioral modifications for a long time to come.

Blockbuster studies published by the journal Science on Thursday showed about 14% of critical COVID-19 patients have impaired levels of a substance called interferon that helps orchestrate the bodys defense against viral pathogens.

The finding opens up new strategies for identifying high-risk patients and treating them with interferon infusions or, in some cases, removing interferon-blocking antibodies from their blood in a procedure called plasmapheresis.

Monoclonal antibodies, a product made by cloning an antibody captured from the blood of a patient who recovered from COVID-19, could also be given to high-risk patients in nursing homes as a preventative treatment, Fauci said.

Ely Lilly & Co.s experimental antibody LY-CoV555 showed some hopeful signs in a trial among out-patients, the company said on Sept. 16.

We have some cautious optimism that monoclonal antibodies may be an important therapeutic for early disease, Fauci said Sept. 10 in an online briefing for Massachusetts General Hospital staff. We need something to keep people out of the hospital.

Follow this link:
Early COVID-19 treatments could be bridge to vaccine, Fauci says - Boston Herald

A team of mostly US-based researchers found that women who reported always having irregular menstrual cycles experienced higher mortality rates than women who reported very regular cycles in the same age ranges. The study took into account other potentially influential factors, such as age, weight, lifestyle, contraceptives and family medical history.

The study assessed 79,505 women with no history of cardiovascular disease, cancer or diabetes. The women reported the usual length and regularity of their menstrual cycles at three different points: between the ages of 14 to 17, 18 to 22, and 29 to 46 years. The researchers kept track of their health over a 24-year period.

"This study is a real step forward in closing the data gap that exists in women's health. It raises many interesting research questions and areas of future study," Dr. Jacqueline Maybin, a senior research fellow and consultant gynecologist at the University of Edinburgh's MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, told the Science Media Centre in London.

"These data will encourage future interrogation of menstrual symptoms and pathologies as an indicator of long-term health outcomes and may provide an early opportunity to implement preventative strategies to improve women's health across the lifespan," said Maybin, who wasn't involved in the research.

Irregular and long menstrual cycles have been associated with a higher risk of major chronic diseases including ovarian cancer, coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and mental health problems, the study said.

In particular, the research, which published in the BMJ medical journal Wednesday, found that women who reported that their usual cycle length was 40 days or more at ages 18 to 22 years and 29 to 46 years were more likely to die prematurely -- defined as before the age of 70 -- than women who reported a usual cycle length of 26 to 31 days in the same age ranges.

The links were strongest for deaths related to cardiovascular disease than for cancer or death from other causes.

The authors were from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Michigan State University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.

No cause for alarm

Experts said that women who experience irregular or long menstrual cycles shouldn't be alarmed by the findings of the study. Maybin said it's important to remember that irregular menstruation is likely a symptom, not a diagnosis.

"A specific underlying cause of irregular menstruation may increase the risk of premature death, rather than the irregular bleeding, per se. We already know that women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a leading cause of irregular periods, have an increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer of the womb. It is important that women with PCOS speak to their doctor to reduce these risks," she said.

The study was observational and can only establish a correlation, not a causal link, between an irregular or long menstrual cycle and premature death. Other unmeasured factors could have influenced the results.

Maybin noted that the participants in the study were all registered nurses. Shift work, particularly nightshifts, has been shown to have a significant impact on long-term health. Abigail Fraser, a reader in epidemiology at the University of Bristol, said that the study didn't appear to take in account socioeconomic status.

The study had some limitations, since the participants had to rely on their own recall of their menstrual cycles, which may not have been completely accurate, the researchers said.

However, the authors said in a news statement that studies such as this one "represent the strongest evidence possible for this question" because menstrual cycles can't be randomized.

An additional vital sign

Like temperature and pulse rate, it should be used to assess a patient's overall health, and doctors should try to identify abnormal menstrual patterns in adolescence. This new study suggested that this should apply to all women during their reproductive lives.

"The important point illustrated by this study is that menstrual regularity and reproductive health provides a window into overall long term health," said Dr. Adam Balen, a professor of reproductive Medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals in the UK and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' spokesperson on reproductive medicine.

"Young women with irregular periods need a thorough assessment not only of their hormones and metabolism but also of their lifestyle so that they can be advised about steps that they can take which might enhance their overall health," said Balen, who wasn't involved in the study.

See the original post here:
Irregular periods linked to a greater risk of an early death, study suggests - CNN

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Sept. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- electroCore, Inc.(Nasdaq: ECOR), a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company, today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs has agreed to sponsor a quadruple blind, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation (nVNS) in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The trial is being sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Research and Development at the Atlanta VA Medical Center.

As outlined in the study protocol, the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have resulted in a large number of veterans with both mTBI and PTSD, making these conditions important concerns of the Department of Veterans Affairs.1 Fifteen percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from mTBI resulting from their service,2 while 13% suffer from PTSD.3

The study, which plans to enroll 100 veterans, is designed to assess the clinical and physiological effects of nVNS in patients with mTBI and PTSD. The studys primary outcome measures include assessments of the veterans clinical improvement, several objective measurements of brain activity, and changes in the levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL6) in response to stress.

mTBI and PTSD disorders have a high degree of overlap, making diagnostic evaluation complex. It is estimated that up to 56% of mTBI patients have co-morbid PTSD,1, 4 and 18% of veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan present with co-morbid mTBI-PTSD,4, 5 making the co-morbid condition more common than either disorder alone. These veterans have higher PTSD symptom levels, more functional impairment,6 increased suicidal ideation,7 poorer health and cognitive function,8 and more post concussive symptoms4 than veterans with either condition alone.

Dr. Douglas Bremner, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Radiology at the Emory University School of Medicine, staff physician at the Atlanta Veterans Clinic General Mental Health Unit at the Atlanta VA Medical Center and primary investigator of the study commented, Veterans with these comorbid conditions represent a major portion of those presenting for treatment for conditions related to service in Iraq and Afghanistan and yet there is no single treatment effective for the full range of cognitive and stress symptoms associated with mTBI-PTSD.9 For these reasons, our focus is on veterans with comorbid mTBI and PTSD as a highly relevant condition which deserves the attention of the VA.

We are very pleased to be selected to participate in this important study, saidPeter Staats, MD, Chief Medical Officer of electroCore. This study builds on recent published work by Dr. Bremner and colleagues that supports the clinical role for nVNS for the treatment of mTBI and PTSD, and we are optimistic that those findings will be further confirmed by the results from this study.

The study is supported by a VA Merit Award. For complete details please see clintrials.gov. (NCT04437498)

References

1.Lew HL, Cifu DX, Crowder T and Hinds SR. National prevalence of traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and pain diagnoses in OIF/OEF/OND Veterans from 2009 to 2011. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50:xi-xiv.

2.Hoge CW, McGurk D, Thomas JL, Cox AL, Engel CC and Castro CA. Mild traumatic brain injury in U.S. Soldiers returning from Iraq. New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;358:453-63.

3.Hoge CW, Castro CA, Messer SC, McGurk D, Cotting DI and Koffman RL. Combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, mental health problems, and barriers to care. New England Journal of Medicine. 2004;351:13-22.

4.Bremner JD. PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury. In: J. D. Bremner, ed. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: From Neurobiology to Treatment Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Blackwell; 2016: 321-344.

5.Bryant RA. Mental disorders and traumatic injury. Depress Anxiety. 2011;28:99-102.

6.Ragsdale KA, Neer SM, Beidel DC, Frueh BC and Stout JW. Posttraumatic stress disorder in OEF/OIF veterans with and without traumatic brain injury. J Anxiety Disord. 2013;27:420-6.

7.Wisco BE, Marx BP, Holowka DW, Vasterling JJ, Han SC, Chen MS, Gradus JL, Nock MK, Rosen RC and Keane TM. Traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and current suicidal ideation among Iraq and Afghanistan U.S. veterans. J Trauma Stress. 2014;27:244-8.

8. Zatzick DF, Rivara FP, Jurkovich GJ, Hoge CW, Wang J, Fan MY, Russo J, Trusz SG, Nathens A and Mackenzie EJ. Multisite investigation of traumatic brain injuries, posttraumatic stress disorder, and self-reported health and cognitive impairments. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010 Dec;67(12):1291-300

9.Brenner LA, Ivins BJ, Schwab K, Warden D, Nelson LA, Jaffee MS and Terrio H. Traumatic brain injury, posttraumatics stress disorder, and postconcussive symptom reporting among troops returning from Iraq. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 2010;25:307-312.

About gammaCoregammaCore(nVNS) is the first non-invasive, hand-held medical therapy applied at the neck as an adjunctive therapy to treat migraine and cluster headache through the utilization of a mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve that passes through the skin. Designed as a portable, easy-to-use technology, gammaCore can be self-administered by patients, as needed, without the potential side effects associated with commonly prescribed drugs. When placed on a patients neck over the vagus nerve, gammaCore stimulates the nerves afferent fibers, which may lead to a reduction of pain in patients.

gammaCore is FDA cleared inthe United Statesfor adjunctive use for the preventive treatment of cluster headache in adult patients, the acute treatment of pain associated with episodic cluster headache in adult patients, the acute treatment of pain associated with migraine headache in adult patients, and the prevention of migraine in adult patients. gammaCore is CE-marked in theEuropean Union for the acute and/or prophylactic treatment of primary headache (Migraine, Cluster Headache, Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias and Hemicrania Continua) and Medication Overuse Headache in adults. In 2019, NICE published an evidence-based Medical Technology Guidance document recommending the use of gammaCore for cluster headache withinNHSEngland.

In the US, the FDA has not cleared gammaCore for the treatment of pneumonia and/or respiratory disorders such as acute respiratory stress disorder associated with COVID-19.Please refer to the gammaCore Instructions for Use for all of the important warnings and precautions before using or prescribing this product.

The United States FDA has authorized use of the gammaCore Sapphire CV device for acute use at home or in a healthcare setting to treat adult patients with known or suspected COVID-19 who are experiencing exacerbation of asthma-related dyspnea and reduced airflow, and for whom approved drug therapies are not tolerated or provide insufficient symptom relief as assessed by their healthcare provider, by using non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on either side of the patients neck, available under an emergency access mechanism called an EUA.

gammaCore Sapphire CV has neither been cleared nor approved for acute use at home or in a healthcare setting to treat adult patients with known or suspected COVID-19 who are experiencing exacerbation of asthma-related dyspnea and reduced airflow, and for whom approved drug therapies are not tolerated or provide insufficient symptom relief as assessed by their healthcare provider, by using non-invasive Vagus nerve Stimulation (nVNS) on either side of the patients neck during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

gammaCore Sapphire CV has been authorized for the above emergency use by FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization.

gammaCore Sapphire CV has been authorized only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of medical devices under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked.

Further information is available at:

Authorization Letter:https://www.fda.gov/media/139967/download

Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers:https://www.fda.gov/media/139968/download

Fact Sheet for Patients:https://www.fda.gov/media/139969/download

Instructions for gammaCore usehttps://www.fda.gov/media/139970/download

About electroCore, Inc.electroCore, Inc. is a commercial stage bioelectronic medicine company dedicated to improving patient outcomes through its platform non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation therapy initially focused on the treatment of multiple conditions in neurology. The companys current indications are the preventative treatment of cluster headache and migraine and acute treatment of migraine and episodic cluster headache.

For more information, visitwww.electrocore.com.

Forward-Looking StatementThis press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the potential for nVNS to treat mild traumatic brain injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other statements that are not historical in nature, particularly those that utilize terminology such as "anticipates," "will," "expects," "believes," "intends," other words of similar meaning, derivations of such words and the use of future dates. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the ability to raise the additional funding needed to continue to pursue electroCores business, sales and marketing, and product development plans, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies, the ability to successfully commercialize gammaCore, competition in the industry in which electroCore operates and overall market conditions. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and electroCore assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure set forth in the reports and other documents electroCore files with theSECavailable atwww.sec.gov.

Investors:Hans VitzthumLifeSci Advisors617-430-7578hans@lifesciadvisors.com

or

Media Contact:Jackie DorskyelectroCore973-290-0097

Link:
electroCore Announces Department of Veterans Affairs Sponsored Study of Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation (nVNS) in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury...

Los Angeles, United State, QY Research recently added a research report, Global Medical Wellness Market Research Report 2020 to its ever-increasing repository. The research report discusses the future of the global Medical Wellness market. It highlights the drivers and restraints and sheds light on the undercurrents defining the threats and opportunities. The research report is projected to provide the readers with a thorough evaluation of factors influencing the global Medical Wellness market. To serve the same purpose, analysts have used a SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis. These evaluations are supported by unbiased opinions of market experts.

The assessment of the global Medical Wellness market is determined with mention of global figures and CAGR for the forecast period. Analysts have also included the historic figures for the mentioned segments and the forecast ones to help the readers understand the progress each part of the global Medical Wellness market will make in the coming years.

Get PDF template of this report:

https://www.qyresearch.com/index/detail/1436640/global-medical-wellness-market

Global Medical Wellness Market: Drivers and Restraints

The thorough evaluation of the global Medical Wellness market includes a complete explanation of the drivers present in the market. Analysts have studied the investments in research and development, the impact of changing economies, and consumer behaviors to ascertain the factors that will drive the overall market. In addition, analysts have also tried to factor in changes in manufacturing activities and industrial operations that will determine the sales of the products in the global Medical Wellness market.

This chapter also explains the possible restraints present in the global Medical Wellness market. It assesses the reasons that could hamper the growth of the market. Analysts have evaluated the rising environmental concerns and fluctuating cost of raw materials that is projected to dampen the spirit of the global Medical Wellness market. However, analysts have also presented potential opportunities that the players in the global Medical Wellness market can bank on. The chapter on drivers, restraints, threats, and opportunities presents a holistic view of the global Medical Wellness market.

Key players cited in the report:

Massage Envy, Steiner Leisure Limited, World Gym, Fitness World, Universal Companies, Beauty Farm, VLCC Wellness Center, Nanjing Zhaohui, Edge Systems LLC, HEALING HOTELS OF THE WORLD, Golds Gym International, Bon Vital, Kaya Skin Clinic, The Body Holiday, Kayco Vivid, Arashiyu Japanese Foot Spa, Enrich Hair & Skin, WTS International, Biologique Recherche, Guardian Lifecare, Healthkart Medical Wellness

Global Medical Wellness Market: Competitive Landscape

Analysts have thoroughly assessed the competitive landscape present in the global Medical Wellness market. The report includes the study of the key players operating in the Medical Wellness market. It also details the strategic initiatives that the companies have taken in recent years to keep up with the intensifying competition. In addition, it also includes an evaluation of the financial outlook of these companies, their research and development plans, and their business strategies going forward.

Global Medical Wellness Market: Segment Analysis

This chapter focuses on the various segments present in the global Medical Wellness market. The report segments the market based on type, application, product, service, and end users. This breakdown allows a granular view of the subject. It helps in understanding the changes in production and overall needs of consumers that are likely to influence these segments.

Global Medical Wellness Market by Type Segments:

, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Beauty Care and Anti-Aging, Preventative & Personalized Medicine and Public Health, Healthy Eating, Nutrition & Weight Loss, Rejuvenation, Other Medical Wellness

Global Medical Wellness Market by Application Segments:

, Franchise, Company Owned Outlets

Global Medical Wellness Market: Regional Analysis

The chapter on regional analysis highlights the political scenario in emerging economies and developed nations that are expected to influence the demand and supply dynamics. The regional analysis also helps in ascertaining the shifting needs of the population that have a critical impact on the overall Medical Wellness market. Cost of labor, raw materials, and production costs depending on the region have also been factored in this part of the research report.

Enquire Customization In the Report:

https://www.qyresearch.com/customize-request/form/1436640/global-medical-wellness-market

Key Questions Answered

The report answers important questions that companies may have when operating in the global Medical Wellness market. Some of the questions are given below:

Answering such types of questions can be very helpful for players to clear their doubts when implementing their strategies to gain growth in the global Medical Wellness market. The report offers a transparent picture of the real situation of the global Medical Wellness market so that companies can operate more effectively. It can be customized according to the needs of readers for better understanding of the global Medical Wellness market.

Table of Content

1 Report Overview1.1 Study Scope1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Players Covered: Ranking by Medical Wellness Revenue1.4 Market Analysis by Type1.4.1 Global Medical Wellness Market Size Growth Rate by Type: 2020 VS 20261.4.2 Complementary and Alternative Medicine1.4.3 Beauty Care and Anti-Aging1.4.4 Preventative & Personalized Medicine and Public Health1.4.5 Healthy Eating, Nutrition & Weight Loss1.4.6 Rejuvenation1.4.7 Other1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Medical Wellness Market Share by Application: 2020 VS 20261.5.2 Franchise1.5.3 Company Owned Outlets1.6 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19): Medical Wellness Industry Impact1.6.1 How the Covid-19 is Affecting the Medical Wellness Industry

1.6.1.1 Medical Wellness Business Impact Assessment Covid-19

1.6.1.2 Supply Chain Challenges

1.6.1.3 COVID-19s Impact On Crude Oil and Refined Products1.6.2 Market Trends and Medical Wellness Potential Opportunities in the COVID-19 Landscape1.6.3 Measures / Proposal against Covid-19

1.6.3.1 Government Measures to Combat Covid-19 Impact

1.6.3.2 Proposal for Medical Wellness Players to Combat Covid-19 Impact1.7 Study Objectives1.8 Years Considered 2 Global Growth Trends by Regions2.1 Medical Wellness Market Perspective (2015-2026)2.2 Medical Wellness Growth Trends by Regions2.2.1 Medical Wellness Market Size by Regions: 2015 VS 2020 VS 20262.2.2 Medical Wellness Historic Market Share by Regions (2015-2020)2.2.3 Medical Wellness Forecasted Market Size by Regions (2021-2026)2.3 Industry Trends and Growth Strategy2.3.1 Market Top Trends2.3.2 Market Drivers2.3.3 Market Challenges2.3.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis2.3.5 Medical Wellness Market Growth Strategy2.3.6 Primary Interviews with Key Medical Wellness Players (Opinion Leaders) 3 Competition Landscape by Key Players3.1 Global Top Medical Wellness Players by Market Size3.1.1 Global Top Medical Wellness Players by Revenue (2015-2020)3.1.2 Global Medical Wellness Revenue Market Share by Players (2015-2020)3.1.3 Global Medical Wellness Market Share by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3)3.2 Global Medical Wellness Market Concentration Ratio3.2.1 Global Medical Wellness Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)3.2.2 Global Top 10 and Top 5 Companies by Medical Wellness Revenue in 20193.3 Medical Wellness Key Players Head office and Area Served3.4 Key Players Medical Wellness Product Solution and Service3.5 Date of Enter into Medical Wellness Market3.6 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans 4 Breakdown Data by Type (2015-2026)4.1 Global Medical Wellness Historic Market Size by Type (2015-2020)4.2 Global Medical Wellness Forecasted Market Size by Type (2021-2026) 5 Medical Wellness Breakdown Data by Application (2015-2026)5.1 Global Medical Wellness Market Size by Application (2015-2020)5.2 Global Medical Wellness Forecasted Market Size by Application (2021-2026) 6 North America6.1 North America Medical Wellness Market Size (2015-2020)6.2 Medical Wellness Key Players in North America (2019-2020)6.3 North America Medical Wellness Market Size by Type (2015-2020)6.4 North America Medical Wellness Market Size by Application (2015-2020) 7 Europe7.1 Europe Medical Wellness Market Size (2015-2020)7.2 Medical Wellness Key Players in Europe (2019-2020)7.3 Europe Medical Wellness Market Size by Type (2015-2020)7.4 Europe Medical Wellness Market Size by Application (2015-2020) 8 China8.1 China Medical Wellness Market Size (2015-2020)8.2 Medical Wellness Key Players in China (2019-2020)8.3 China Medical Wellness Market Size by Type (2015-2020)8.4 China Medical Wellness Market Size by Application (2015-2020) 9 Japan9.1 Japan Medical Wellness Market Size (2015-2020)9.2 Medical Wellness Key Players in Japan (2019-2020)9.3 Japan Medical Wellness Market Size by Type (2015-2020)9.4 Japan Medical Wellness Market Size by Application (2015-2020) 10 Southeast Asia10.1 Southeast Asia Medical Wellness Market Size (2015-2020)10.2 Medical Wellness Key Players in Southeast Asia (2019-2020)10.3 Southeast Asia Medical Wellness Market Size by Type (2015-2020)10.4 Southeast Asia Medical Wellness Market Size by Application (2015-2020) 11 India11.1 India Medical Wellness Market Size (2015-2020)11.2 Medical Wellness Key Players in India (2019-2020)11.3 India Medical Wellness Market Size by Type (2015-2020)11.4 India Medical Wellness Market Size by Application (2015-2020) 12 Central & South America12.1 Central & South America Medical Wellness Market Size (2015-2020)12.2 Medical Wellness Key Players in Central & South America (2019-2020)12.3 Central & South America Medical Wellness Market Size by Type (2015-2020)12.4 Central & South America Medical Wellness Market Size by Application (2015-2020) 13 Key Players Profiles13.1 Massage Envy13.1.1 Massage Envy Company Details13.1.2 Massage Envy Business Overview and Its Total Revenue13.1.3 Massage Envy Medical Wellness Introduction13.1.4 Massage Envy Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020))13.1.5 Massage Envy Recent Development13.2 Steiner Leisure Limited13.2.1 Steiner Leisure Limited Company Details13.2.2 Steiner Leisure Limited Business Overview and Its Total Revenue13.2.3 Steiner Leisure Limited Medical Wellness Introduction13.2.4 Steiner Leisure Limited Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)13.2.5 Steiner Leisure Limited Recent Development13.3 World Gym13.3.1 World Gym Company Details13.3.2 World Gym Business Overview and Its Total Revenue13.3.3 World Gym Medical Wellness Introduction13.3.4 World Gym Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)13.3.5 World Gym Recent Development13.4 Fitness World13.4.1 Fitness World Company Details13.4.2 Fitness World Business Overview and Its Total Revenue13.4.3 Fitness World Medical Wellness Introduction13.4.4 Fitness World Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)13.4.5 Fitness World Recent Development13.5 Universal Companies13.5.1 Universal Companies Company Details13.5.2 Universal Companies Business Overview and Its Total Revenue13.5.3 Universal Companies Medical Wellness Introduction13.5.4 Universal Companies Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)13.5.5 Universal Companies Recent Development13.6 Beauty Farm13.6.1 Beauty Farm Company Details13.6.2 Beauty Farm Business Overview and Its Total Revenue13.6.3 Beauty Farm Medical Wellness Introduction13.6.4 Beauty Farm Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)13.6.5 Beauty Farm Recent Development13.7 VLCC Wellness Center13.7.1 VLCC Wellness Center Company Details13.7.2 VLCC Wellness Center Business Overview and Its Total Revenue13.7.3 VLCC Wellness Center Medical Wellness Introduction13.7.4 VLCC Wellness Center Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)13.7.5 VLCC Wellness Center Recent Development13.8 Nanjing Zhaohui13.8.1 Nanjing Zhaohui Company Details13.8.2 Nanjing Zhaohui Business Overview and Its Total Revenue13.8.3 Nanjing Zhaohui Medical Wellness Introduction13.8.4 Nanjing Zhaohui Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)13.8.5 Nanjing Zhaohui Recent Development13.9 Edge Systems LLC13.9.1 Edge Systems LLC Company Details13.9.2 Edge Systems LLC Business Overview and Its Total Revenue13.9.3 Edge Systems LLC Medical Wellness Introduction13.9.4 Edge Systems LLC Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)13.9.5 Edge Systems LLC Recent Development13.10 HEALING HOTELS OF THE WORLD13.10.1 HEALING HOTELS OF THE WORLD Company Details13.10.2 HEALING HOTELS OF THE WORLD Business Overview and Its Total Revenue13.10.3 HEALING HOTELS OF THE WORLD Medical Wellness Introduction13.10.4 HEALING HOTELS OF THE WORLD Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)13.10.5 HEALING HOTELS OF THE WORLD Recent Development13.11 Golds Gym International10.11.1 Golds Gym International Company Details10.11.2 Golds Gym International Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.11.3 Golds Gym International Medical Wellness Introduction10.11.4 Golds Gym International Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.11.5 Golds Gym International Recent Development13.12 Bon Vital10.12.1 Bon Vital Company Details10.12.2 Bon Vital Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.12.3 Bon Vital Medical Wellness Introduction10.12.4 Bon Vital Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.12.5 Bon Vital Recent Development13.13 Kaya Skin Clinic10.13.1 Kaya Skin Clinic Company Details10.13.2 Kaya Skin Clinic Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.13.3 Kaya Skin Clinic Medical Wellness Introduction10.13.4 Kaya Skin Clinic Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.13.5 Kaya Skin Clinic Recent Development13.14 The Body Holiday10.14.1 The Body Holiday Company Details10.14.2 The Body Holiday Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.14.3 The Body Holiday Medical Wellness Introduction10.14.4 The Body Holiday Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.14.5 The Body Holiday Recent Development13.15 Kayco Vivid10.15.1 Kayco Vivid Company Details10.15.2 Kayco Vivid Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.15.3 Kayco Vivid Medical Wellness Introduction10.15.4 Kayco Vivid Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.15.5 Kayco Vivid Recent Development13.16 Arashiyu Japanese Foot Spa10.16.1 Arashiyu Japanese Foot Spa Company Details10.16.2 Arashiyu Japanese Foot Spa Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.16.3 Arashiyu Japanese Foot Spa Medical Wellness Introduction10.16.4 Arashiyu Japanese Foot Spa Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.16.5 Arashiyu Japanese Foot Spa Recent Development13.17 Enrich Hair & Skin10.17.1 Enrich Hair & Skin Company Details10.17.2 Enrich Hair & Skin Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.17.3 Enrich Hair & Skin Medical Wellness Introduction10.17.4 Enrich Hair & Skin Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.17.5 Enrich Hair & Skin Recent Development13.18 WTS International10.18.1 WTS International Company Details10.18.2 WTS International Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.18.3 WTS International Medical Wellness Introduction10.18.4 WTS International Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.18.5 WTS International Recent Development13.19 Biologique Recherche10.19.1 Biologique Recherche Company Details10.19.2 Biologique Recherche Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.19.3 Biologique Recherche Medical Wellness Introduction10.19.4 Biologique Recherche Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.19.5 Biologique Recherche Recent Development13.20 Guardian Lifecare10.20.1 Guardian Lifecare Company Details10.20.2 Guardian Lifecare Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.20.3 Guardian Lifecare Medical Wellness Introduction10.20.4 Guardian Lifecare Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.20.5 Guardian Lifecare Recent Development13.21 Healthkart10.21.1 Healthkart Company Details10.21.2 Healthkart Business Overview and Its Total Revenue10.21.3 Healthkart Medical Wellness Introduction10.21.4 Healthkart Revenue in Medical Wellness Business (2015-2020)10.21.5 Healthkart Recent Development 14 Analysts Viewpoints/Conclusions 15 Appendix15.1 Research Methodology15.1.1 Methodology/Research Approach15.1.2 Data Source15.2 Disclaimer15.3 Author Details

About Us:

QYResearch always pursuits high product quality with the belief that quality is the soul of business. Through years of effort and supports from the huge number of customer supports, QYResearch consulting group has accumulated creative design methods on many high-quality markets investigation and research team with rich experience. Today, QYResearch has become a brand of quality assurance in the consulting industry.

Read more:
Medical Wellness Market Development, Market Trends, Key Driven Factors, Segmentation And Forecast To 2020-2026(Steiner Leisure Limited, World Gym,...

THURSDAY, Oct. 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In a finding that suggests a woman's periods might be a powerful indicator of her general health, researchers report that women with irregular and long menstrual cycles face a higher risk of early death.

In a study that spanned 24 years and included more than 79,000 premenopausal women who had no history of heart disease, cancer or diabetes, those who'd always had irregular menstrual cycles were more likely to die before the age of 70 than those who had regular cycles.

"The important point illustrated by this study is that menstrual regularity and reproductive health provides a window into overall long-term health," Dr. Adam Balen, a professor of reproductive medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals in Britain, told CNN.

"Young women with irregular periods need a thorough assessment, not only of their hormones and metabolism but also of their lifestyle so that they can be advised about steps that they can take which might enhance their overall health," said Balen, who wasn't involved in the study.

Women who had a usual cycle length of 40 days or more at ages 18-22 and 29-46 were more likely to die prematurely than those who had a usual cycle length of 26-31 days in the same age ranges.

These associations were strongest for deaths from heart disease, compared to cancer or other causes. The increased risk was also slightly stronger among smokers, according to the study published Sept. 30 in the BMJ medical journal.

The findings suggest that a woman's menstrual cycle should be considered an important sign of general health throughout her childbearing years, the researchers said in a journal news release. They were led by Jorge Chavarro, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

They said the associations between long and irregular menstrual cycles and increased risk of premature death are likely due to hormone disruptions. But the study did not prove that irregular periods actually caused early death, just that there was an association.

Irregular and long menstrual cycles are common among women of reproductive age and have been linked with a higher risk of major chronic diseases including ovarian cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental health problems.

However, there's been little previous evidence to link irregular or long menstrual cycles with early death risk.

"These data will encourage future interrogation of menstrual symptoms and pathologies as an indicator of long-term health outcomes and may provide an early opportunity to implement preventative strategies to improve women's health across the life span," Dr. Jacqueline Maybin told the Science Media Centre in London, CNN reported. She is a senior research fellow and consultant gynecologist at the University of Edinburgh's MRC Centre for Reproductive Health.

"A specific underlying cause of irregular menstruation may increase the risk of premature death, rather than the irregular bleeding, per se," said Maybin, who was not involved in the research. "We already know that women with polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS], a leading cause of irregular periods, have an increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer of the womb. It is important that women with PCOS speak to their doctor to reduce these risks."

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has more on menstrual irregularities.

SOURCES: BMJ, news release, Sept. 30, 2020; CNN

See the original post:
Irregular, Long Periods Tied to Shorter Life Span - HealthDay News

ITP program providing reimbursement for gammaCore extended to March. 31, 2021 with option for additional three years

The potential contract value if the three-year extension option is exercised could be up to approximately 3.6 million (or approximately $4.6 million based on the current exchange rate)

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Oct. 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- electroCore, Inc.(Nasdaq: ECOR), a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company, today announced that Englands National Health Service (NHS) has extended the Innovation and Technology Payment (ITP) Program for the use of gammaCore for the treatment of cluster headache in adults for an additional six months. The extension will run throughMarch 2021 and via this program, which started inApril 2019, gammaCore will continue to be reimbursed for those patients inEngland who suffer from cluster headache and respond to the therapy. The proposed contract includes the option to extend for up to an additional three years through March 31, 2024. The potential contract value if the three-year extension option is exercised could be up to approximately 3.6 million (or approximately $4.6 million based on the current exchange rate). The award notice can be found here.

The extension ofNHSEnglands ITP program will ensure that our established patient base can continue to access a treatment proven to work for them, whilst also supporting the further adoption of gammaCore in new patients suffering from cluster headache, who are yet to experience the therapy, saidIain Strickland, electroCores VP of European Operations. Importantly, gammaCore remains the only device approved by theNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence(NICE) for use in patients with drug resistant cluster headaches, fulfilling an important unmet need.

The ITP Program is designed to support the adoption of innovations and technologies in theNHSmarket through the removal of significant financial barriers for both NHS commissioners and providers. The program provides funding to these innovative medical technologies and promotes a broader set of activities with Academic Health Science Networks in order to deliver improvements in the quality and efficacy of patient care.

About gammaCore

gammaCore (nVNS) is the first non-invasive, hand-held medical therapy applied at the neck to treat migraine and cluster headache through the utilization of a mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve that passes through the skin. Designed as a portable, easy-to-use technology, gammaCore can be self-administered by patients, as needed, without the potential side effects associated with commonly prescribed drugs. When placed on a patients neck over the vagus nerve, gammaCore stimulates the nerves afferent fibers, which may lead to a reduction of pain in patients.

gammaCore is FDA cleared in the United States for adjunctive use for the preventive treatment of cluster headache in adult patients, the acute treatment of pain associated with episodic cluster headache in adult patients, the acute treatment of pain associated with migraine headache in adult patients, and the prevention of migraine in adult patients. gammaCore is CE-marked in the European Union for the acute and/or prophylactic treatment of primary headache (Migraine, Cluster Headache, Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias and Hemicrania Continua) and Medication Overuse Headache in adults. In 2019, NICE published an evidence-based Medical Technology Guidance document recommending the use of gammaCore for cluster headache within NHS England.

Safety and efficacy of gammaCore have not been evaluated in the following patients:

Patients should not use gammaCore if they:

For additional safety information please see Instruction for Use here.

In the United States, the FDA has not cleared gammaCore for the treatment of pneumonia and/or respiratory disorders such as acute respiratory stress disorder associated with COVID-19.

Please refer to the gammaCore Instructions for Use for all of the important warnings and precautions before using or prescribing gammaCore.

The United States FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for acute use of the gammaCore Sapphire CV device at home or in a healthcare setting to treat adult patients with known or suspected COVID-19 who are experiencing exacerbation of asthma-related dyspnea and reduced airflow, and for whom approved drug therapies are not tolerated or provide insufficient symptom relief as assessed by their healthcare provider, by using non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) on either side of the patients neck, available under an emergency access mechanism called an EUA.

gammaCore Sapphire CV has neither been cleared nor approved for acute use at home or in a healthcare setting to treat adult patients with known or suspected COVID-19 who are experiencing exacerbation of asthma-related dyspnea and reduced airflow, and for whom approved drug therapies are not tolerated or provide insufficient symptom relief as assessed by their healthcare provider, by using non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) on either side of the patients neck during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

gammaCore Sapphire CV has been authorized only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of medical devices under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked.

Further information is available at:

Authorization Letter: https://www.fda.gov/media/139967/download

Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers: https://www.fda.gov/media/139968/download

Fact Sheet for Patients: https://www.fda.gov/media/139969/download

Instructions for gammaCore use https://www.fda.gov/media/139970/download

About electroCore, Inc.

electroCore, Inc. is a commercial stage bioelectronic medicine company dedicated to improving patient outcomes through its platform non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation therapy initially focused on the treatment of multiple conditions in neurology and rheumatology. The companys initial targets are the preventative treatment of cluster headache and acute treatment of migraine and episodic cluster headache.

For more information, visitwww.electrocore.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about anticipated government funding arrangements provided by the NHS and NICE, electroCore's business prospects, sales and marketing, and product development plans, future cash flow projections, anticipated costs, its pipeline or potential markets for its technologies, the availability and impact of payer coverage, the potential product use for other indications, and other statements that are not historical in nature, particularly those that utilize terminology such as "anticipates," "will," "expects," "believes," "intends," other words of similar meaning, derivations of such words and the use of future dates. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the ability to raise the additional funding needed to continue to pursue electroCores business, sales and marketing, and product development plans, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies, the ability to successfully commercialize gammaCore, competition in the industry in which electroCore operates and overall market conditions. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and electroCore assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure set forth in the reports and other documents electroCore files with theSECavailable atwww.sec.gov.

Investors:Hans VitzthumLifeSci Advisors617-430-7578hans@lifesciadvisors.com

or

Media Contact:Jackie DorskyelectroCore973-290-0097

View original post here:
electroCore, Inc. Announces Extension of NHS England's Innovation and Technology Payment (ITP) Program to Fund Continued Use of gammaCore in England -...

Wilderness medicine is a rapidly evolving field, and has benefitted from expanded research efforts. As new research emerges, some guidelines have been updated to reflect the most current and sound scientific conclusions, this blog by Arghavan Omidi, Dylan Kain, Farah Jazuli, Milca Meconnen, Andrea K. Boggild looks at some of these updates.

Arghavan Omidi, Dylan Kain, Farah Jazuli, Milca Meconnen & Andrea K. Boggild 26 Aug 2020

Wilderness medicine is a rapidly evolving field, and has benefitted from expanded research efforts. Within the last decade, the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) has aggregated research findings and created guidelines on prevention measures and therapeutic options for acute altitude illness, frostbite injuries, heat-related illness, and avalanche and non-avalanche snow burials. As new research emerges, some guidelines have been updated to reflect the most current and sound scientific conclusions.

Frostbite injury, which can cause deep tissue damage in severe cases, is a common occurrence in those who travel to cold climates or high altitudes where temperatures are often below freezing.

Acute altitude illness, a term that encompasses syndromes such as acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), refers to illness related to ascent to high altitude, which commonly manifests as symptoms of headache, weakness, altered consciousness, and even neurological and cardiopulmonary complications. Optimal strategies to prevent AMS and HACE include gradual ascent, as well the use of acetazolamide and dexamethasone. New evidence has questioned the benefit of budesonide and acetaminophen use, ultimately calling for more conclusive research in the form of large-scale clinical trials. Conversely, hypoxic tents are now recognized as a valid method of pre-acclimatization. Therapeutic strategies for treating AMS and HACE include descent from altitude and supplemental oxygen use, and new evidence has highlighted the potential of continuous positive airway pressure but further research is required. The use of salmeterol nor acetazolamide are no longer recommended by the WMS as a prevention method against HAPE due to accounts of unwarranted side effects.

Frostbite injury, which can cause deep tissue damage in severe cases, is a common occurrence in those who travel to cold climates or high altitudes where temperatures are often below freezing. The WMS has recognized classification of frostbite injuries by the depth of tissue damage as the most appropriate in emergency settings. Updated guidelines also recommend classification by anatomical extent of injury and amputation risk as diagnostic tools within hospital settings. Recommendations for prevention of frostbite injuries include increasing peripheral circulation and protection from the cold. As well, thawing frozen tissue is still identified as the primary therapeutic measure. New evidence has introduced the therapeutic potential of intravenous thrombolytics and iloprost, a potent vasodilator, for treating deep frostbite injuries. Additionally, new guidelines advocate for use of single photon emission computed tomography as means of assessing amputation dimensions in severely injured patients.

With a mortality rate of up to 10%, heat illness can affect people who are exposed to sunlight and high temperatures for a prolonged period of time. Heat illness constitutes a spectrum of disease ranging from heat edema, which is swelling in extremities due to heat exposure, to heat stroke, which is characterized by a core temperature of over 40 degrees Celsius and manifests as neurological abnormalities such as seizure. The most effective way to prevent heat illness is through mitigation planning according to factors such as the intensity and duration of outdoor activities, and the frequency of breaks that prevent an individual from overheating. The most effective field and in-hospital treatment for heat illnesses is cold water immersion therapy, which involves immersion of the body in cold water. In accordance with recent findings, guidelines recognize the detrimental effects of heat illness on the cardiovascular system, and recommend screening for such complications after an episode of fainting/passing out.

With a mortality rate of up to 10%, heat illness can affect people who are exposed to sunlight and high temperatures for a prolonged period of time.

In 2017 the WMS released their first set of evidence-based guidelines on avalanche and non-avalanche snow burial. Avalanche snow burial can have a mortality rate of 70% if the victim is not rescued within the first 15 minutes. As such, the most effective preventative measures include avalanche avoidance, burial avoidance, trauma minimization, and asphyxia avoidance, and it is highly recommended for anyone at risk of avalanche burial to be adequately trained in prevention and escape strategies. Equipment such as helmets, backpacks, and specialized avalanche airbags have shown potential for trauma minimization but require further research to validate their use. Rescue guidelines recommend adherence to algorithms that involve establishing a team and team roles, ensuring their own safety, performing searches with transceivers or other methods, strategic shovelling and extraction of victims. Following rescue, resuscitation guidelines outline conditional protocols for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and advanced life support based on duration of burial, core temperature, obstruction of airway, and return of circulation, followed by trauma and hypothermia care when necessary. Non-avalanche snow burial, which is composed of head-first immersion into tree wells or deep powder snow, is less represented within published literature, prompting guidelines that recommend avoiding outdoor activities near tree wells or deep snow as the most optimal means of prevention.

Future steps and Conclusions

As WMS guidelines are carefully synthesized based on existing literature as well as expert opinion, more representative research with sound methodology of equal strength and quality as randomized controlled trials is needed, specifically for the topics of heat injuries and snow burials, which are two areas where it would be unethical to directly replicate the conditions for research purposes. Along with that, further investigation into adjunctive therapies and prevention strategies both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic is recommended to expand care options.

In 2019, the updated WMS guidelines on the prevention, treatment and long-term management of acute altitude illness, frostbite injuries, and heat illness were published. As well as this, they have reviewed literature pertaining to avalanche and non-avalanche snow burial to generate prevention and treatment guidelines. These graded guidelines, which have been reviewed and graded based on level of supporting evidence as well as their risk to benefit ratio, not only serve as systematically-derived medical recommendations, but also highlight the need for expansion of research efforts to alleviate gaps in knowledge within the field of environmental medical science.

Read the original:
What's New in Environmental Illnesses of Travel: Updated Guidelines from the Wilderness Medical Society - On Health - BMC Blogs Network

By Madeline Heim, Annysa Johnson and Samatha West, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

As hundreds of thousands of students return to classrooms across Wisconsin, the state has no plans to publicize details about COVID-19 outbreaks when they occur at schools.

Freedom of information advocates say that information should be available to the broader public, and some researchers say data could help schools learn from one another. But others worry about protecting students, parents and communities from stigma if information about outbreaks is shared widely.

Without a state-level source of information, what you know about outbreaks in your schools may depend on the openness of local school districts and health departments.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed last week it will publish only the number of schools in the state with COVID-19 investigations, which launch when as few as two cases are identified in a given space. The department doesnt plan to name the schools or describe the severity of the outbreaks.

This is similar to how the state treats other facility-wide investigations, which it tracks by category, like outbreaks in group housing, health care settings and other workplaces. One exception is nursing homes, which are regulated by the state and federal governments and are named on the DHS site when an investigation occurs.

Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, said the location and size of school outbreaks should be made public, just as he believes the state health agency should post the names of businesses and other establishments connected to at least two cases of COVID-19, as it had initially planned.

I think its tragic that the Department of Health Services is being so secretive of COVID cases, and I think its contrary to public interest and public health, he said. They consistently have shown they dont particularly trust the people of Wisconsin to make reasonable and rational use of public information. Instead they just assume people are going to flip out if a school or business has some experience with COVID.

School teachers and staff across the state also are wondering what information will be available to them, since most school decisions are made at the district level, said Ron Duff Martin, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, which represents about 50,000 members across the state.

While schools are bound by privacy laws, he said, teachers and staff have concerns about keeping themselves, their families and their students safe.

Isnt this just a prime example of how this is the Wild West in Wisconsin, that we dont have one consistent policy for all of our schools? Martin said.

Theres a difference between local control and being able to give the direction and guidance from state level, he said. There are certain things that should be consistent from school district to school district and county to county.

Jenni Hofschulte of the Wisconsin Public Education Network said the education advocacy organization supports local control in school districts but would prefer districts follow a common set of rules and practices so families can better understand how theyll be applied in their communities.

Were disappointed as a network in some of the guidance thats come out and that so many of these decisions big decisions with big consequences have been put onto local schools in a way thats not something like choosing a textbook for a class, she said. Its about how to handle a global pandemic.

Schools are often the heart of their communities, Hofschulte said, meaning everyone should have access to information about outbreaks.

How many people have contact with a school building in a day? Its far more than students, parents, teachers or school staff. Its volunteers, grandparents and so much more, she said. People deserve the right to know.

At national and state levels, school outbreak sources are few

Across the country, schools have cited medical and educational privacy laws in keeping outbreak numbers confidential. But legal experts recently told USA TODAY that these laws dont bar schools from sharing this information, as long as it cant be used to identify specific people.

Standing guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA which prohibits medical providers from releasing identifying information about a patient doesnt apply to elementary or secondary schools.

Educational records are kept private by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, but the U.S. Department of Education said in March that the law doesnt prevent schools from sharing non-identifying details about COVID-19 cases.

Wisconsin statute requires schools to notify local health officials if they know or suspect a communicable disease is present in a building, either among students, teachers or other staff.

New DHS guidance issued to schools last week says administrators should track cases, other illnesses and student absences. In the event of a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19, DHS said administrators should notify families and all teachers and staff.

But no recommendations are given as to how or when Wisconsin schools should inform the public about the size and location of outbreaks.

Other states have similarly shielded details about specific school outbreaks from the public, including Michigan and Tennessee. In Oklahoma, school districts arent even required to report COVID-19 cases to local public health officials, according to a New York Times report.

In the absence of a federal system to track school outbreaks, Emily Oster, an economist at Brown University, has teamed up with national school superintendents and principals associations to collect data on school COVID-19 cases from as many schools across the country as possible.

Their dashboard, which is expected to go live about a week after data collection starts in early September, will provide the public with basic information like enrollment numbers, the schools reopening plans and precautions taken, as well as suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, and absences.

Schools can choose to participate, Oster said, but shes hopeful that support from the superintendents and principals will persuade many districts to opt in.

The best thing we can do is just be honest about what we see as the value here, Oster said. Theres a lot of enthusiasm about having these data, and I think were going to have to rely on making clear to people: If you want this data to exist, then we do need participation.'

The value of the data, she said, would be as a tool for more informed decision-making. With this data in hand, schools can look to one another to determine what mix of precautions and COVID-19 prevalence creates the safest situation to open schools, and they also can track differences in outbreaks across age groups.

It also rids parents, teachers and families of uncertainty, she said.

When we report on outbreaks without doing a comprehensive data collection, it can be hard for people to understand: Was that just one outbreak, or is every school like that? Oster said. This effort can answer those questions and allay some fears or, maybe, tell us its not safe.

Is it enough for a school to send letters to parents?

For many school officials and families, the benefits of having information about an outbreak are clear. But some disagree on whether the general public needs to see it, too.

Dr. Maggie Nolan, a preventative medicine physician in Madison whose oldest child is starting first grade this year at Madison Country Day School in Waunakee, said shes asked the school to provide parents with the number of students absent from school on a given day.

Because COVID-19 has a wide range of symptoms and may not present the same way in all children, she said, she might opt for virtual learning if several of her daughters classmates are out sick whether or not theyve been confirmed COVID-positive.

She served on a medical advisory board to help guide the schools reopening, and said she feels like shes gotten a strong commitment from school leaders that theyll tell parents what they want to know about outbreaks.

Still, Nolan said she doesnt believe that information necessarily needs to be shared with the broader public. Especially within smaller schools, she said, even de-identified information about cases could be enough to make someones identity known.

There will be talk of it in the community enough to make people aware, Nolan said. But adding stigma to certain schools or communities (with outbreaks) is really a slippery slope.

What no one wants, she said, is a situation where parents are discouraged from getting their kids tested if they feel a positive COVID test will stigmatize them in some way.

But Patrick Remington, an epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said people like day care providers and coaches also need to be informed about an outbreak involving students.

He recommends schools to go beyond sending a letter home to families and operate some sort of dashboard to track outbreaks.

In my mind, I cant imagine any information that parents need to know that a community wouldnt also be interested in knowing, he said.

Its critical, Remington said, that schools take control of the message and share information on outbreaks transparently rather than letting rumors proliferate on social media.

Youve seen schools where (theyll say), Ms. Johnson isnt going to be here tomorrow. Shell be gone for two weeks,' he said. You think a parent doesnt know whats going on?

Without outbreak details from DHS, the responsibility falls to local health departments and the school districts themselves to decide what information to share, and how.

Martin said the state teachers union has been holding town halls with its members and state and local officials trying to address their concerns.

What really has our educators anxious. he said, is if theres an outbreak, what can we know? What cant we know? Theyre very anxious about whats happening in their districts and beyond.

And the onus of tracking down information, on top of getting ready for an uncertain school year, just places another layer of stress on them.

Disclosure decisions fall to local officials

Its not clear how much more transparency there will be at the local level.

Two health departments in Milwaukee County in Milwaukee and Greenfield said they have no plans to publicly list numbers of COVID-19 cases by school or school district.

The Milwaukee Health Department said in an email to USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin that schools will be required to notify all parents in a school about positive cases, but the health department will not report numbers publicly by school or district. It said it does not provide information about positive cases for companies or organizations in any other sector and that it would not treat schools differently.

Sharing specific, small-scale, demographic information with the public does not aid in the public health mitigation strategies, the department said in an email.

But Milwaukee Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik, in her regularly scheduled Tuesday briefing, appeared to suggest that listing cases by school might happen eventually. She called it a sensitive topic and said any decision would have to be made in collaboration with districts, teachers unions and the Department of Public Instruction.

Most schools are virtual in the city of Milwaukee, so it gives us a little time to figure this out, she said.

In the city of Greenfield, in southwestern Milwaukee County, Health Officer Darren Rausch said his office has not yet thought through whether and how it will release information about schools to the general public. But he said his office doesnt typically release public health data in small numbers because that can identify individuals. And schools would likely be treated the same way, he said.

Disease is all around us, Rausch said. Im not any more concerned because theres a case in my school, because I know there are other settings that my child is in or could be in where I could get COVID.

In Waukesha County, west of Milwaukee, health officials added a map to their COVID-19 dashboard showing the number of active cases involving children under 18 by school district geographic area. But it does not cite numbers by school or district, and it includes all children, regardless of where they go to school, including those in private and charter schools and those who are home-schooled.

Nicole Armendariz, spokeswoman for Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow, said it will be up to schools and districts to determine whether to notify anyone, including parents and staff, who are not close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case.

Contact Madeline Heim at 920-996-7266 or mheim@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @madeline_heim. Contact Annysa Johnson at anjohnson@jrn.com or 414-224-2061. Follow her on Twitter at @JSEdbeat. Contact Samantha West at 920-996-7207 or swest@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @BySamanthaWest.

Like Loading...

Related

Read the original here:
Wisconsin officials won't name schools that have COVID-19 outbreaks, or say how big they are - wausaupilotandreview.com

HOUSTON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Axiom Medical Consulting, LLC, a leader in occupational health services and innovator of the CheckIn2Work app, has successfully expanded its reach to Hollywood to ensure workplace safety for cast, production and crew members in the onsite film production industry during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Working with several production companies, Axiom is achieving excellent results in the mitigation of COVID-19.

The pandemic halted TV and film sets in Hollywood as production organizations struggled with how to provide safe workplaces in a pre-vaccine world. While trade unions and guilds released a COVID-19 collaborative report titled "The Safe Way Forward," productions still lacked the capacity and resources to independently meet the science-based protocols and medical management for health and safety for all workers.

Enter Axiom as a third-party medical provider offering preventative medicine and public health expertise, with independent COVID-19 medical management, so that production firms can successfully adopt safe return-to-work processes which mitigate the spread of infectious disease. The company has also introduced procedural standards to ensure the continued safety of the workforce. As part of its strategy, they provide a Health Safety Supervisor for productions, who is responsible for COVID-related safety, including zoned testing, daily attestation, case management, contact tracing and compliance.

Complying with established health and safety zoning standards and medically approved protocols, the Company has performed 8,399 tests to date within several Los Angeles-based production companies, showing a positivity rate of 0.17 percent, as compared with the 5.7 percent community seven-day testing positivity average.

The probability of disease exposure and transmission within certain film production companies was significantly lowered. One of these success stories is the upcoming HBO Max television series by Jax Media, Haute Dog, which completed a four-week-long shoot following full union guidelines and COVID protocols instituted by Axiom, culminating in zero positive test results among cast, crew and producers.

"We are honored to be working with the California film production industry, including Jax Media, to help employers and employees manage their workplace safety during COVID," says Mark Robinson, Axiom's CEO. "To achieve these excellent results of no or low positivity within production companies validates the effectiveness of our protocols and procedures. Our excellent team, guided by our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Scott Cherry, is to be commended for providing effective, science-based solutions to mitigate infections in the workplace."

"Axiom Medical's plan made our workplace safe and healthy throughout production of our new series, Haute Dog," says Michael Miller, co-executive producer. "The quality team of professionals ensured that strict protocols were in place for everyone associated with the project, day in and day out. The result was zero positive cases of COVID over four weeks of production, which is something we can all be proud of."

Axiom is now working with the newly revived production from TBS, Wipeout, the obstacle course reality competition that originally aired on ABC between 2008 and 2014. Axiom's Tony DeLitta is serving as Health Safety Supervisor on the production, which was also his role with Haute Dog.

Axiom Medical Consulting, LLC was founded in 1999 in The Woodlands, TX and has established itself as an industry leader in providing complete occupational health services for the total life cycle of client's employees. Axiom is the expert in the fields of workers' compensation, disability case management and OSHA-mandated medical programs. The Company was founded on the best practice mission of caring for employees first and providing a significant return on investment for clients. Axiom has impacted over 1,000,000 lives by helping employees in the workplace and continues its mission by supporting during the COVID-19 crisis by managing over 32,000 COVID cases and 429,542 CheckIn2Work attestations. For more information, please visit us at http://www.axiomllc.com.

# # #

SOURCE Axiom Medical Consulting, LLC

View original post here:
Axiom Medical Successfully Expands to Hollywood Film and TV Production Industry with COVID-19 Guidance, Safety Protocols and Testing - Benzinga

Wisconsin universities are reporting multiple positive cases of COVID-19 among students and staffas many campuses within the University of Wisconsin System prepare to start classes next week.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has released a COVID-19 dashboard showing that 36 people on campus have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. On Tuesday, nine students tested positive, which has sent the campus's seven-day average of positive tests climbing.

Of the 36 positives at the state's flagship campus, 33 came from students, with the rest coming from employees. So far, the total positivity rate for UW-Madison is 1.2 percent.

A campus spokeswoman said that on top of the positives detected using on-campus testing 87 additional students and eight additional employees have been reported through off campus testing. That brings the total number of positives for the campus to 131 so far.

Collin Pitts, the chief resident of the campus Preventative Medicine Residency program working with University Health Services, said seeing positive cases isn'ta surprise and the current data is similar to the rate of community spread in Madison and Dane County.

"We're really expecting a fair number of cases over the next couple of days as we expand our testing to include all the students that are living in the residence halls," Pitts said.

Pitts said UW-Madison is testing all students planning to live in residence halls on arrival to campus. He said this stands in contrast to what other campuses like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which moved classes online less than a week after opening.

UW-Madison will also conduct voluntary testing of groups of students living off campus. And COVID-19 screening is available to any student or employee that requests it. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will also be tested along with anyone that had recent contact with those testing positive.

Pitts said the plan is to test 8,000 students in the first week of mass screening and the expectation is that the positivity rate will continue to match that of the surrounding community. If 1.2 percent of those 8,000 students test positive there could be nearly 100 new cases reported.

The university is using what is known as a PCR test, which detects genetic material in the virus. But Pitts said the test is so new and approved through a U.S. Food and Drug Administration emergency authorization the university doesn't know how accurate it is.

"We don't actually have the sensitivity for it, because the current FDA emergency use authorization doesn't require it," said Pitts. "They require a lot of detection and validation process."

That said, UW-Madison's PCR test is very similar to others that have proven highly effective at detecting the virus, said Pitts.PCR tests, in general have been described as the "gold standard" for accurate COVID-19 diagnosis.

Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter.

UW-Whitewater reported three new cases between Aug.17 and Aug. 29. Two of those positive results came from employees, the other beinga student. Since March, the campus has reported 11 positive cases of COVID-19. UW-Whitewater's COVID-19 dashboard doesn't include key metrics like total test numbers or positivity rate. A campus spokesman told WPR in an email he was working to get the additional testing information.

UW-Parkside has reported one positive case of COVID-19 this month. But again, the campus reporting dashboard doesn't include information on how many tests had been administered. An email requesting that information was not returned by a campus spokesman.

Marquette University, the state's largest private college, has reported a total of 108 positive cases of COVID-19 since testing began in March. Of the total, 89 positives have come from the student population and 19 have come from employees.

In the past month, universities and colleges have made their final preparations to welcome hundreds of thousands of students back to campuses across Wisconsin. These plans have included face mask requirements, temperature monitoring, and even required pledges in which students promise to follow rules meant to prevent outbreaks on campus.

In a blog post, Wednesday, UW-Madison chancellor Becky Blank defended the university's decision to push forward with bringing tens of thousands of students and employees back to campus while other universities around the U.S. close because of outbreaks. She said a "substantial percentage" of students will continue to live in Madison whether classes are online or not.

"Given this, we believe that both they and the community are better off when they have some structure to their days (beyond sitting at home in front of a computer), when testing is broadly available, and when they receive daily reminders of health protocols," Blanks said.

But local elected officials aren't so sure reopening campus amid the pandemic will leave students or the community better off. A letter signed by 28 Dane County Supervisors, Madison City Council Members and Madison Metropolitan School District board members opposed the university's "Smart Restart" plan and requested that nearly all classes be moved online, dorms only be used for students who don't have safe alternative housing and that specific metrics on what would cause the campus to cancel in-person instruction be shared with the public.

"Why bring everyone back to campus until the inevitable outbreak, which will require a vast amount of public health resources to address, and the potential spreading of the virus to multiple communities?" said the letter.

See the original post:
Wisconsin Universities Begin Reporting Cases Of COVID-19 - Wisconsin Public Radio News